old fritz and the new era-第67部分

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〃Well；　then；　when　Baroness　von　Ebenstreit　enters　this　costly　house；
she　must　understand　that　her　mother　was　mindful　of　her　best
interests；　and　that　she　owes　all　this　to　her；　and　you；　Trude；　must
remind　her　of　it；　and　tell　her　about　my　dreadful　trial　with　her
father；　and　that　it　is　my　daughter's　duty　to　release　me　from　it；　and
beg　her　husband　not　to　deduct　the　gambling…debt　from　the　pension；
but　pay　it　this　once。　For　it　would　be　a　dreadful　injustice　to　make
me　suffer　for　the　general's　rage　for　play；　and　show　but　little
gratitude　for　the　riches　which　I　brought　her。　You　will　tell　my
daughter　all　this；　Trude；　and〃

〃I　will　not　tell　her　any　thing　at　all；　Frau　von　Werrig；〃
interrupted。　Trude；　warmly。　〃May　my　good　genius　keep　me　from　that；
and　burdening　my　conscience　with　such　falsehoods。Hark！　A　carriage
is　coming；　and　a　post…horn　sounded。　They　have　arrived！〃

Old　Trude　hurried　out　just　as　they　drove　up　to　the　door。　The　steward
and　two　servants　in　livery　rushed　down　the　steps　to　assist　them　to
alight；　and　Trude　also　to　greet　her　favorite；　who　was　now　so　pale；
grave；　and　chilling　in　her　appearance。

The　large　eyes　of　the　lady　rested　with　cold　indifference　upon　the
old　woman；　whose　eyes　were　turned　to　her　with　the　tenderest
expression。　〃I　thank　you；〃　she　said；　coldly。　〃Husband！　I　beg　you　to
give　me　your　arm。〃　Proudly　she　passed　the　statuary；　and　over　the
soft　carpets　without　comment；　or　even　a　word　for　old　Trude。

The　steward　and　housekeeper　followed　the　silent　couple。

〃Shall　I　take　you　to　your　room　first？〃　asked　Ebenstreit；　〃or　will
you　do　me　the　pleasure　to　look　at　the　newly…arranged　drawing…rooms？〃

〃Certainly；〃　she　replied；　with　indifference。　〃We　will　first　look　at
the　drawing…rooms；　as　we　shall　probably　receive　much　company　this
winter；　and　they　are　of　the　first　importance。　You　know　that　I
dislike　solitude。〃

〃Indeed；　I　recall　that　we　are　very　seldom　alone！〃　sighed　her
husband。

〃It　would　be　fearful　if　we　were；〃　replied　his　wife；　with　marked
indifference。

The　steward　just　now　opened　the　little　door　of　the　ante…room；
sparkling　with　chandeliers　and　mirrors。　〃Ah！　this　is　really
beautiful；　and　well　chosen；〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　looking　about　with　an
air　of　great　pride　and　satisfaction。　〃Tell　me；　Marie；　is　it　not
worthy　of　you？〃

Glancing　coldly　around；　she　replied：　〃It　does　not　please　at　all。　The
furniture　is　very　costly；　and　reminds　one　of　the　parvenu。　Every
thing　recalls　the　riches　of　the　newly…titled　banker。〃

Her　husband's　brow　contracted；　but　he　did　not　trust　himself　to
contest　his　dissatisfaction　with　his　cold；　proud　wife；　but　sought
another　vent　for　it。

〃You　are　very　unkind；　Marie。　Have　the　goodness　to　tell　me　how　you；
with　these　severe　ideas；　can　suffer　that　Trude　for　a　moment　should
appear　before　us　in　this　poor…looking　dress　which；　indeed；　does　not
recall　any　wealth！〃

Frau　von　Ebenstreit's　eyes　glanced　quickly　over　the　old　who；　she
said；　was　the　only　object　which　did　not　bespeak　the　gaudiness　of
newly…acquired　wealth；　but　she　appeared　as　the　respectable　servant
of　an　old　and　noble　family　in　fitting　dress。　〃Remain　as　you　are；
Trude；　and　do　not　let　yourself　be　misled　by　our　follies！　Ibut　what
is　that　I　see？〃　she　cried　as　the　steward　opened　the　next　door　at　the
silent　nod　of　her　husband。

〃Oh；　my　beloved　children；　there　you　are　at　last；　after　three　years'
absence　I　have　the　happiness　to　embrace　you；　my　only　daughter；〃
cried　Frau　von　Werrig；　as　she　approached　them　with　outstretched　arms
and　an　affectionate　smile；　essaying　to　throw　her　arms　around　Marie's
neck；　who　waved　her　back。

〃My　child；　my　child；〃　whimpered　the　mother；　〃is　it　possible　that　my
daughter　can　receive　me　thus　after　so　long　a　separation？〃

Turning　to　Trude；　Marie　asked　her；　with　a　reproving　look　and　tone；
if　she　had　received　her　letter；　or　if　she　had　forgotten　her　express
commands　that　no　one　but　the　servants　should　be　in　the　house　to
receive　them。〃

〃I　did　not　forget　it；　my　lady；　and　I　have　read　the　orders　to　Frau
von　Werrig；　but　she〃

〃Knew　that　this　wish　had　no　reference　to　her；　as　she　is　her　mother
Tell　me；　my　beloved　son；　is　it　not　very　natural　and　fitting　that　I
should　be　here　to　receive　you？'

〃I　find　it　a　matter　of　course；〃　answered　Von　Ebenstreit；　to　whom　it
appeared　a　relief　to　find　an　ally　in　the　mother　against　his　proud
and　beautiful　wife。　〃I　rejoice　to　see　our　dear　mother　here；　and　I
beg　Marie　will　join　me。〃

Marie　cast　an　angry　glance　toward　her　husband；　which　so　confused　and
perplexed　him；　that　he　looked　down。　Then　advancing　toward　the
drawing…room；　with　her　usual　cold　demeanor；　without　further　comment
upon　the　ostentatious　furniture；　she　commanded　her　husband　to
follow；　who　obeyed；　giving　his　arm　to　his　mother…in…law。

〃Oh；　this　is　glorious！〃　he　cried；　smiling。　〃What　splendor；　what
luxury！　Tell　me；　my　dear　mother；　is　not　this　beautiful　reception…
room　very　aristocratically　and　appropriately　fitted　up？〃

〃I　should　think　a　princess　or　a　queen　might　be　satisfied　with　it；〃
she　cried；　with　enthusiasm。　〃Even　in　royal　palaces　there　is　nothing
of　the　kind　to　compare　to　this　gold…embroidered　tapestry。〃

〃Baron；〃　said　Marie；　commandingly；　〃have　the　kindness　to　dismiss　the
steward。　I　wish　to　speak　with　you　and　Frau　von　Werrig。〃

The　steward　slipped　out　without　waiting　to　be　sent；　and　Trude　stood
near　the　door；　turning　to　the　young　baroness；　as　if　to　ask　if　she
might　remain。

〃Did　you　not　hear；　Trude？〃　cried　the　mother；　impatiently。　〃Tell　her
to　go！〃

〃Remain；　Trude；〃　said　Marie；　quietly。　〃You　are　familiar　with　the
past。　I　have　nothing　to　deny　to　you；　shut　the　door　and　stay　here。
And　now；〃　she　continued；　as　her　voice　lost　its　gentleness；　when　she
addressed　her　mother；　〃if　it　is　agreeable　to　you；　I　should　like　to
have　an　understanding　with　you！〃

〃But；　my　child；〃　sighed　the　mother；　〃how　strangely　altered　you　are！
You　address　me；　your　mother；　as　Frau　von　Werrig；　and　you　speak　to
Ebenstreit　in　a　very　formal　manner；　who　has　been　your　dear；　faithful
husband　for　three　years。　Oh；　my　darling　son；　what　does　this
ceremonious　manner　mean？〃

〃The　very　first　hour；　after　our　marriage；　that　we　were　alone　my　dear
Marie　severely　reproved　me　for　having　addressed　her　in　an　intimate；
affectionate　manner；　like　the　common　class；　as　she　called　it；　and　I
have　never　done　so　since。〃

〃You　must　be　convinced　that　I　am　right；〃　said　Marie；　calmly；　〃and
that　it　does　not　become　two　beings；　who　neither　love　nor　esteem　each
other；　and　who　live　in　the　most　ceremonious　manner；　to　address　one
another　with　endearing　epithets。　At　any　rate　we　are　not　accountable
to　any　one；　and　Frau　von　Leuthen　must　know　the　relations　we　bear　to
each　other　in　the　so…called　marriage；　as　it　is　her　arrangement　for
the　most　part。〃

〃And　I　pride　myself　upon　it；〃　she　cried；　with　animation。　〃I　have
brought　about　this　marriage；　which　is　good　fortune　to　us；　and　I　hope
my　daughter　will　prove　her　gratitude；　and　my　son　will　show　me　the
affection　he　has　so　often　sworn　to　me。〃

〃I　do　not　know　what　my　husband　may　have　sworn　to　you；　but　permit　me
to　say；　I　do　not　understand　whom　you；　Frau　von　Werrig；　address　as
daughter　here；　if　you　accidentally　refer　to　me；　you　are　in　error；　I
have　never　possessed　a　mother　to　love　me；　although　formerly；　during
long　years　I　endeavored　with　tender　assiduity　to　win　a　parent's
heart。　That　is　long　past；　however。　The　very　day　that　I　married　Herr
von　Ebenstreit　I　renounced　all　family　ties；　and　resolved　to　be　self…
reliant。　My　husband　will　witness　that　he　has　never　known　me　to
yield；　and　that　I　have　always　been　firm　and　resolute　in　my
decision。〃

〃No　one　would　doubt　it；〃　replied　Ebenstreit；　timidly。　〃We　had　a　very
strange　marriage；　which　scarce　deserves　the　name。　We　resemble　more
two　companions　who　have　joined　in　business；　the　one　side
reluctantly；　and　the　other　joyfully。　I　long　for　a　happy　married
life；　which　has　been　quite　impossible　thus　far。〃

〃And　will　be　to　the　end；　which　you　will　yet　learn；　and　Fran　von
Werrig　should　understand　it；　as　she　brought　about　the　union；　and
should　not　be　in　doubt　as　to　the　conclusion。〃

〃I　acknowledge　that　I　am　almost　speechless　and　quite　paralyzed　with
that　which　I　see　and　hear。　I　should　doubt　that　this　cold；　proud
woman　before　me　were　my　daughter；　if　it　were　not　for　the　name　she
bears；　and　her　features。〃

〃That　which　you　and　my　husband　have　caused　me　to　become。　He　knew
that　I　neither　loved　nor　esteemed　him；　and　that　a　union　with　him
seemed　so　unendurable　that　I　would　have　sought　refuge　in　death；　if　I
had　not　vowed　to　support　life　to　attain　the　aim　which　I　imposed　upon
myself。　That　is　all　past；　it　is　the　future　which　we　must　arrange。　I
am　glad　that　you　are　here；　Frau　von　Werrig；　that　we　may　understand
each　other　once　for　all；　but　you　came　against　my　wishes。〃

〃You　must　excuse　it；　dear　Marie。　It　was　the　longing　of　mother's
heart　which　led　me　hither；　the　love〃

A　cold；　contemptuous　glance　of　the　large　eyes　caused　the　mother　to
cease；　and　quail　before　her　daughter。

After　a　short　pause　Marie　continued：　〃I　wish　to　exercise　alone　and
unhindered　the　executive　rights　of　a　lady　in　her　own　house。　Do　you
acknowledge　the　justice　of　this；　my　husband？〃

〃Perfectly　and　unconditionally；　dear　Marie。　You　know　that　I　have　no
other　will　but　yours；　which　is　my　highest　happiness　to　submit　myself
to　in　all　things；　always　hoping　to　gain　your　love　and　win　your
heart；　that〃

〃That　this　woman　has　changed　to　stone；〃　said　Marie；　coldly；　pointing
to　her　mother。　〃As　you　then　recognize　me　as　the　mistress　of　this
house；　I　shall　avail　myself　of　my　just　right；　and　no　one　can　prevent
me；　for　I　stand　alone；　absolved　from　all　family　ties。　By　my　birth
and　your　riches；　I　shall　occupy　the　position　of　a　woman　of　the
world；　and　as　such　I　shall　live。〃

〃I　am　delighted　to　hear　it；　Marie；〃　cried　her　husband。　〃For　this
reason　I　have　had　the　drawing…rooms　furnished　in　the　most　costly
manner；　and　I　shall　be　proud　to　receive　the　aristocratic　society　who
will　come　to　render　homage　to　my　wife；　as　they　have　done　everywhere
in　Paris；　London；　Rome；　Madrid；　and　St。　Petersburg。　We　have
frequented　the　highest　circle　in　all　these　cities；　and　they　have
crowded　our　drawing…rooms；　charmed　with　the　beauty；　distinguished
manners；　tone